UTRGV SBDC Monthly Newsletter for May

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley SBDC

Monthly Newsletter

May 2025

Dear Small Business Owner:

Happy National Small Business Week! 🎉

From May 4th to 10th, we celebrate the incredible achievements and unwavering resilience of small business owners like you, who are the backbone of our economy. Your hard work, innovation, and dedication drive local communities forward and create countless opportunities.

Remember, the UTRGV Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is here to support you every step of the way. Whether you need guidance, resources, or information, we're committed to empowering your entrepreneurial journey.

Keep shining and making a difference!

Warmest regards,

UTRGV Small Business Development Center

Celebrating over 35 years of service!

Proud Member of the Texas South-West SBDC Network

News & Information

Updates for Small Businesses

➤ On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership invites small businesses and local winners to attend the "2025 National Small Business Week" recognition ceremony from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Rancho Viejo Resort and Country Club, Conference Center, located at 1 Bolivar Ave., Rancho Viejo, Texas. For more information, contact Lily Cantú at (956) 968-3141 or via email at lily@rgvpartnership.com.

➤ On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the UTRGV SBDC is joining the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation for its "Let's Get Down to Business" fair. The event will be held at the Harlingen Convention Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for individuals interested in starting or growing businesses in the City of Harlingen. Key departments and business resource organizations will be sharing information with attendees. For more information on this event, please call the Harlingen EDC at (956) 216-5081 or email mescobar@harlingenedc.com.

➤ America’s SBDC has partnered with Lendistry, a leading fintech specializing in small business loans, to enhance access to capital for small businesses across the U.S., aiming to support entrepreneurs facing significant challenges by streamlining funding processes.

➤ Census Business Builder (CBB) is a valuable data tool for business owners and planners who want to grow their business or analyze the impact of emergencies on supply chains. The tool provides demographic, economic, and socioeconomic data from the U.S. Census Bureau in an intuitive and simple-to-access format.

➤ Rio Grande Valley residents impacted by the storm on March 27, 2025, are encouraged to report damages to homes and businesses through the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). The information provided is crucial in identifying whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance.

➤ FinCEN has removed the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements for U.S. companies and U.S. persons and set new deadlines for foreign companies. Please see the news release for more information.

Small Business Success Story

Davila's Clinic, PLLC

Davila's Clinic, PLLC is a newly established business located in Weslaco, Texas, focused on delivering comprehensive patient care and aesthetic services.

The clinic is owned and operated by Justin Davila, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC.

Davila’s Clinic offers a diverse array of medical services, including primary care, IV therapy, patient lab reviews, chronic disease management, specialist referrals, and aesthetic treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers. (Read On)

Business Advising & Market Research Services

UTRGV Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

The UTRGV SBDC is here to provide personalized support, as you develop and execute operational and growth strategies for your business. Confidential business advising services are available to you, either in person or virtually, by appointment, and at absolutely no cost. Additionally, market research services are available for our clients.

Reach out to your advisor today to arrange a follow-up appointment. If you are new to the UTRGV SBDC, please visit eCenter Direct to register and schedule your initial appointment. If you're unable to access eCenter Direct online, please call our office at (956) 665-7535 for further assistance.

Stay connected with us! Follow us on Facebook for the latest information and resources for your small business.

Business Training Opportunities

Service Area Sessions

5/6/25 Building a Solid Business Plan 2:00 PM-4:00 PM | In Person | No Fee

5/7/25 Site Tweaks to Increase Reach 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/7/25 From Projections to Profits: Understanding Accounting & Finance Essentials 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/8/25 SBDC Smart Start 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/14/25 Get Found, Got Growth 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/14/25 Marketing 101: Plan, Execute, & Grow Your Customer Base 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/21/25 Boosting Customer Satisfaction in Your Restaurant 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | In Person | No Fee

5/21/25 Make Better Decisions with Analytics 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/22/25 Staying Ahead: Monthly Marketing & AI Developments with Maria Elena 11:00 AM-12:00 PM Live Webinar | No Fee

5/22/25 Crafting Your Small Business Identity 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

Plus, coming up in June...

6/4/25 Go Global with Google Market Finder 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

6/11/25 Increase Sales with Google Tools 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

6/18/25 Thriving at Remote eCommerce 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

6/19/25 Staying Ahead: Monthly Marketing & AI Developments with Maria Elena 11:00 AM-12:00 PM Live Webinar | No Fee

Network Area Sessions

4/1/25-6/10/25 SCORE Childcare Texas Series 6:30 | Live Webinar | SCORE & TXST SBDC

5/6/25 The Power of the Inbox 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | DMC SBDC

5/14/25 IRS New Entrepreneur Workshop 1:00 PM | Live Webinar | UHV SBDC

5/20/25 Dealing with Difficult People 10:00 AM | Live Webinar | TXST SBDC

5/20/25 Compliance Requirements by TXDOT 10:00 AM | Live Webinar | TAMIU SBDC

5/20/25 ActionBrand® Secrets 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | ASU SBDC

*Additional sessions found on eCenter.

Additional Partner Services

Texas South-West SBDC Network

The Texas South-West SBDC Network has 10 field offices (including the UTRGV SBDC) that provide services to a 79-county region. Check out additional center training events at the TXSW SBDC Network.

U.S. Small Business Administration in the Lower Rio Grande Valley District

The UTRGV SBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Locally, the SBA Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office serves 14 counties in southern Texas. The SBA office in Harlingen can be reached at (956) 427-8533. SBA offers a variety of online courses to help you start and run your business. Visit the SBA Learning Center for a list of courses to help you along your entrepreneurial journey. In addition, SBA has an online portal that can help businesses find potential lenders with competitive rates and fees. Visit SBA Lender Match for details.

UTRGV Office of Workforce & Economic Development

The UTRGV Office of Workforce & Economic Development (OWED) supports economic development in the Rio Grande Valley through services by the UTRGV SBDC and the following centers. For more information on these services, visit UTRGV OWED or any of the centers below.

UTRGV APEX Accelerator (APEX)

UTRGV Data and Information Systems Center (DISC)

UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC)

UTRGV Professional Education & Workforce Development (PEWD)

UTRGV Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

UTRGV Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

UTRGV SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

BUILDING THE TEXAS ECONOMY ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Office Locations

UTRGV CESS Bldg. | 1407 E. Freddy Gonzalez Dr. | Suite 1.200 | Edinburg, Texas 78539

eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization | 1304 E. Adams St. | Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 665-7535 | sbdc@utrgv.edu | www.utrgv.edu/sbdc

Funded in part through the State of Texas and a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UTRGV SBDC at (956) 665-7535.

At The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the UTRGV SBDC is a center of the Office of Workforce and Economic Development (OWED), under the UTRGV Division of Governmental & Community Relations. OWED aims to address issues that impact the long-term welfare of the community through private/public partnership efforts. For more information on these efforts, please call (956) 665-3361 or email vpgcr@utrgv.edu.